Frequently Asked Questions Pertaining to the Biology Degree Program and Beyond
Table of Contents
- Do I have to be advised every semester?
- How do I find out the name of my academic advisor?
- I hear you can be paid to go to graduate school. Is this true?
- How do I apply for graduation?
- When should I start applying to professional schools and graduate school?
- I need recommendation letters. How do I get these?
- When should I take the GRE?
- How do I prepare for the GRE?
- If I don't like chemistry should I be a Biology major?
- If I don't like math should I be a Biology major?
- If I get a biology degree do I have to go to medical school?
- I want to major in biology - why am I being told to start with chemistry?
Yes. At Clayton State University we have a policy that all students should be advised prior to every semester. Students are advised by the Arts and Science Academic advisement office when they are classified as a freshman or sophomore (i.e. before completing the Organic Chemistry sequence). They are advised by Biology faculty after they have completed at least CHEM2411. Students should check their Duck record to determine who their advisor is before seeking advisement. Advisement sessions last from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. You can prepare for these advisement sessions by reviewing the curriculum checklists for your major and area of emphasis (see Biology advisement home page), and determining which classes you wish to take and are ready to take.
Log into the Duck and look at your academic information. If "School of Arts and Science" is listed as your advisor then you need to contact the A&S Academic advisement office (http://a-s.clayton.edu/advising/default.htm), otherwise a name will be listed for your advisor. You can find your advisor on the biology advisement web (http://a-s.clayton.edu/biology/Advisment Web/Biology_Advisement.htm). You should make an appointment to see your advisor before registration begins to make sure that you are able to see him/her before registration – registration is a very busy time, and waiting until the last minute is a very bad idea. You need to see your assigned advisor – you should not go to a different advisor from the one listed on your duck record - each advisor is assigned certain students, and if you go to the wrong person, you will be sent to your proper advisor.
Yes – many graduate programs in the sciences provide support to their students in a variety of ways. This can include research assistantships (where you are paid to work on research) or teaching assistantships (where you are paid to teach labs or lecture sections of various courses). Your duties will differ depending on the program you apply to – you should ask about the responsibilities you would typically have as well as the amount of support (some students receive a tuition waiver in addition to their stipend).
Before you can graduate from Clayton State University, you are required to submit an application for graduation. The applications are due at specific dates in the semester before you intend to graduate. Notices will be posted in departmental offices and email will be sent out by the registrar. It is vital that you fill out and turn in the application by this deadline. Late applications are only accepted on appeal with a justified reason. Applications for graduation are available in the offices in the arts & sciences building (A&S G-110 and G-210). Ask the secretary on duty for a copy of the application. You should fill this out with the courses and grades from your duck record and then make an appointment with your advisor to go over the form and make certain it is completely filled out. After this meeting, you are responsible for taking the form to the registrar’s office – do not give it to your advisor. When you turn in the form you must get a receipt from someone in the registrar’s office. If there is a problem with your application, the receipt will be a vital piece of evidence to support your application.
Generally, graduate and professional schools begin the process of accepting their new students in the previous year (i.e., fall 2006 students start applying in fall 2005 or winter 2006). The application process varies from school to school, but it is important that you follow the application guidelines (including any relevant dates). Generally, applications are due in the winter of the year you intend to enroll, and the interviews and other parts of the application process will take place in the spring.
Recommendation letters are vital for applications, finding a job, etc. Depending on what you’re applying for the number of letters you will need will vary. Generally, you want to get letters from faculty members who are appropriate for you. You should try to get letters from faculty who have had you recently and (if possible) who have had you for several classes so that they can honestly assess your abilities and potential. You will generally want to pick professors in whose classes you did well so that they will be able to say extra complimentary things about you! Most professors like to see a copy of your CV or your personal narrative before they write you a letter. Reading your CV or narrative helps your professors to write a more personal letter.
Because of the time it takes for reporting GRE scores, you should plan to take the GRE in the fall the year before you intend to enter graduate school. You should take the GRE general test, which covers general reading, quantitative, and analytical skills. You will also probably want to take the GRE subject test in biology or in molecular biology. Which test you will take is dependent on the school to which you are applying, so you should check with your program to see which tests are appropriate.
The GRE is divided into several sections. The courses you take while at Clayton State University should prepare you for the test in general. However, there are a number of study guides and courses you can use to improve your score.
Much of modern biology rests on a foundation provided by the other sciences. For this reason, it is not possible to take only biology courses and be sufficiently educated. In particular, there are five chemistry courses that are required for of all Biology majors, covering, inorganic, organic, and biochemistry. Without taking these courses, you would not be able to understand much of the material in your upper-level Biology courses.
The modern sciences are also united in their dependence on mathematics to model various systems and to collect and analyze experimental data. Many courses in the Biology core require a solid understanding of math and its applications. If you feel you are not sufficiently prepared in math, you may want to talk to your advisor about the possibility of taking remedial courses to prepare yourself before taking math intensive courses.
It's true that people tend to associate biology degrees with medical careers, but there are a variety of different paths you can take. For more information, you should discuss your options with your advisor and view the PowerPoint file that briefly lists some possibilities.
You generally start with the first semester of chemistry as soon as you are able (based on your ability to pass the appropriate prerequisites). This is important because there are four chemistry courses (CHEM 1211, 1212, 2411, and 2412) that are prerequisites for many upper-level biology courses. If you delay taking those courses for too long, your graduation may be delayed as well.